MiR-136 triggers apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells by targeting AEG-1 and BCL2.

Objective: Gastric cancer is the second most prevalent cancer across the globe and accounts for about 10% of new cancer cases. It is one among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths around the world. Recently, microRNAs have been identified as important therapeutic targets for the treatment of several cancers owing to their potential to target multiple genes and hinder several biological processes such as proliferation and apoptosis. In the current study, we investigated the potential of miR-136 as therapeutic target for gastric cancer.

Materials And Methods: Total RNA was isolated by RNeasy RNA isolation kit and cDNA was prepared byRevertAid cDNA synthesis kit. The transcript analysis was carried out by quantitative RT-PCR. The transfection of miR-136 mimics or plasmids was carried out by using the Lipofectamine 2000 reagent. Apoptosis was detected by DAPI and acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining. Protein expression was examined by Western blotting.

Results: The results indicated that the expression of miR-136 is significantly downregulated in gastric cancer cells. Transfection and subsequent overexpression of miR-136 in gastric cancer cells significantly promoted apoptosis as evident from DAPI and OA staining. In silico analysis revealed AEG-1 and BCL2 to be the potential targets of miR-136. Therefore, the expression of AEG-1 and BCL2 was determined in untreated control, cisplatin treated control and miR-136 transfected AGS gastric cancer cells. The results revealed that overexpression of miR-136 expression causes significant downregulation of AEG-1 and BCL2 protein expression.

Conclusions: Taken together, we conclude that miR-136 promotes apoptosis in gastric cancer cells by targeting AEG-1 and BCL2. Therefore, miR-136 may prove as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of gastric cancer.